Extreme Heat

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), heat is the leading cause of death among all weather-related phenomena, and it is becoming more dangerous as 18 of the last 19 years were the hottest on record, as of 2024.

Every year, thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure, and some cases are fatal. OSHA states that “occupational risk factors for heat illness include heavy physical activity, warm or hot environmental conditions, lack of acclimatization, and wearing clothing that holds in body heat.”

Dangerous conditions due to heat stress are most prominent in outdoor jobs with high sun exposure, especially construction, working at height, and with utilities like gas.